It has been a tale of two seasons for Kentucky softball this year. The Wildcats are 24-19 overall, but their record tells two very different stories. 23-5 in non-conference play and just 1-14 in SEC competition, where they sit at the bottom of the standings.

“The SEC play, every time you go out there, it’s like you are in a super regional,” head coach Rachel Lawson said. “You have to come up with timely hits.”

Kentucky has struggled mightily in conference play, dropping its last 14 SEC games after opening with a win over Auburn. Many of those losses haven’t been close, either, as the Wildcats have been run-ruled in nine of the 14 defeats, showing how tough the conference slate has been.

Still, the team believes those challenges will eventually pay off as the season progresses and the experience builds.

“We’ve played a gauntlet of a schedule, and I mean, we are great athletes,” junior Carly Sleeman said. “I think it’s almost less pressure. We have it in all of us, and it’s going to click at some point.”

Outside of SEC play, however, Kentucky has been dominant. The Wildcats went 2-0 against EKU and Morehead State. Kentucky has now won 17 of its last 18 non-conference games, continuing to show their ability to control games against non-league opponents.

That success has provided a clear contrast to their conference struggles and offers some optimism moving forward as SEC play comes to a close soon. If Kentucky can translate even part of its non-conference performance into SEC play, the Wildcats could become far more competitive down the stretch with nine SEC games remaining before the tournament.

7-0 win over Morehead State

You can call this the Abby Hammond game. Hammond delivered a standout performance in a 7-0 win over Morehead State, leading the Wildcats on both sides of the ball. Hammond was dominant in the circle, tossing a complete-game shutout across seven innings. Hammond’s effectiveness came from her ability to limit free bases as she worked efficiently, attacking hitters with zero walks.

She also made an impact at the plate. Hammond went 1-for-2 while drawing a walk, reaching base twice and contributing to Kentucky’s offensive production. She scored one run and added an RBI.

Kentucky will get a chance to try and end the last nine games of the SEC on a high note as it takes on rival No.6 Tennessee in a three-game series.